Special to the Leader & Times
The Kansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Innovation is proud to announce the launch of the Accelerating Concept to Commercialization in Kansas (ACCEL-KS) program, an initiative aimed at fast-tracking innovative ideas to market-ready solutions. The program is designed to empower entrepreneurs, foster collaboration, maximize diverse resources, and support Kansas businesses to drive economic growth and create high-quality jobs in target industries.
“ACCEL-KS embodies Kansas’ bold commitment to supporting innovators and entrepreneurs by providing the tools, resources and collaborative network they need to create home-grown wealth and products throughout the state,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “By strengthening the pipeline from concept to commercialization, we are positioning our state as a hub for transformative technologies and additional economic growth.”
The Office of Innovation seeks to collaborate with existing incubators or innovation centers on Proof-of-Concept (PoC) programming. In partnership with Commerce, entities will be awarded up to $500,000 to develop and deliver a statewide PoC network. The awards require a 25% cash match.
“The ACCEL-KS partners will align with the Office of Innovation’s goals to accelerate the state’s innovation economy,” Chief Innovation and Strategy Officer Romaine Redman said. “Through this model, we are forging a partnership for excellence as we surround innovators and entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship and commercialization support needed to turn bold ideas into market-ready solutions.”
To be selected, innovation incubators and centers are required to outline a plan detailing how a statewide PoC program would work. The plans must be focused on identifying and supporting idea- and early-stage entrepreneurs through the development of high-impact PoC projects by providing technical assistance, mentorship, prototyping resources and commercialization support to innovators.
Proposals are due by 5 p.m. May 9. Interested organizations are encouraged to attend a virtual information sessions scheduled for 3 p.m. April 23. To register, visit https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/im-q6WyLSWORqb_sLNr83A#/registration.
For additional information or questions about the program, visit https://www.kansascommerce.gov/accel-ks/.
About the Kansas Department of Commerce
As the state’s lead economic development agency, the Kansas Department of Commerce strives to empower individuals, businesses and communities to achieve prosperity in Kansas. Commerce accomplishes its mission by developing relationships with corporations, site location consultants and stakeholders in Kansas, the nation and world. Our strong partnerships allow us to help create an environment for existing Kansas businesses to grow and foster an innovative, competitive landscape for new businesses. Through Commerce’s project successes, Kansas was awarded Area Development Magazine’s prestigious Gold Shovel award in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and was awarded the 2021 and 2022 Governor’s Cup by Site Selection Magazine.
